To not understand the appeal of 4x4s

[purplesquarepurple]

I live in a suburb with flat roads yet a huge percentage of cars driving about the area are 4x4s. Genuinely interested to know why people who live in areas like that drive cars like that. The negatives I can see are: more expensive, worse for the environment, much more likely to kill a pedestrian if you hit them (recent incident in Germany where a 4x4 killed 4 pedestrians), much more likely to kill driver/passengers in other cars in a collision, not actually safer for driver of 4x4 as more likely to roll in a collision, reduces visibility for other road users, takes up more space in bay parking spaces...and I'm sure there are lots more. I completely understand that they are necessary for certain people - if they live in a rural area or have lots of dogs for example - but that definitely isn't the case for most people in my areas. Just wondering, I suppose, what the positives are that outweigh all those negatives?

@quietlyFuming no I'm not jealous at all, like I said I could afford one. I've just had some bad experiences of people who drive them. They are dangerous and if you get knocked down by one or one goes into you you have almost no chance of survival. They also take up lots of room on the roads and in parking spaces.

I would never have one, ever!

They are dangerous

Any vehicle is potentially dangerous.

@QuietlyFuming

Nice to know I’m branded a ‘prick’ because of the car I drive.

This can't be news to you?

I thought a pp demonstrated that it is possible for 4x4s to be safer for pedestrians than other cars. Believe it or not when you buy an expensive luxury car they have actually thought about pedestrians and contain safety features just for the benefit of pedestrians. Also where I live every other house has a some form of Range Rover or Discovery so you don't look flash by having one, you simply fit in with the crowd.

They absolutely can be as safe or safer or as other cars on the road. Some people just don’t want to believe it, ruralcat.

Or perhaps ‘acknowledge it’ is a better choice of phrase.

So if say a land rover went into my car or knocked a pedestrian over in comparison to a normal car it wouldn't do more damage to me my car and the pedestrian?

There was a programme on years ago that did tests and comparisons with a land rover crashing into cars and pedestrians and a normal car, the difference was huge and there wouldn't be many survivors of the land rover crash.

I'd believe it if you could give me examples of their safety.

There was a programme on years ago

Yes. Nothing ever changes when years have gone by.

Someone already posted NCAP ratings. Do your own research.

I just assume those who opted for a 4x4 did the same thing as I did when I chose my low slung sports care. Just went for what I liked most.

Anyone who drives a car has no place demanding other car drivers justify their choice.

Anyone who drives a car has no place demanding other car drivers justify their choice.

Apparently, it's OK if you are an Extinction Rebellion supporter.

@Looobyloo my car has airbags for pedestrians and EAB for if someone steps out in front of me. What do you consider to be a 'normal' car? I ask because I do consider mine to be a normal car. I think if my car destroyed another car it would be more reflective of the quality of the other car than mine provided the accident didn't happen in extreme circumstances such as very high speed.

I drive a Mercedes GLS SUV 4 x 4.
I have the amg version , with every extra you can imagine.
It has censors and cameras everywhere, if someone gets too close ( another car or pedestrian it will slow and break automatically, it is incredibly safe and reliable ) I'm not going to go into all of the show pony stuff it can do ( it parks itself though and that's bloody amazing) but Mercedes adapted it for me to fit a hoist for my sons wheelchair and space for the wheelchair and shopping , luggage etc
Also I have a brain stem injury and the semi autonomous features keep me independent.
It does have better fuel economy than the Ford Galaxy people carrier I had and that thing was so hard to park and totally unreliable.
This is the second Mercedes SUV I've had and it's bigger than the last because my son now has a bigger wheelchair.
It's not on finance or lease. It's not a status symbol.
It's independence and practicality for myself and my kids.
In the 3 months I've had it has changed my life.
Added bonus I can fit a few sacks of duck and chicken feed in, a few bales of straw and a full shop in the boot with a huge wheelchair and the hoist.
We don't live in a semi on an estate in the suburbs either.
Honestly people shouldn't have to justify themselves anyway.

“ ... you simply fit in with the crowd” sums it up I reckon. They’ve just become the new normal so not a status symbol at all!

Loobyloo

I'd believe it if you could give me examples of their safety

I already have but ok. I drive the 2019 RHD version of this car (different spec but same shape and same standard safety features plus other additional safety aids), which was tested by EuroNCAP in 2017. www.euroncap.com/en/results/volvo/xc60/28534

Feel free to explore the site and compare it to others in its and other classes.

Sorry, Looobyloo

These types of threads do make me laugh.

We have one because they are fun! We enjoy green laning through weekends and drive respectfully and well within the law.

I also wonder how many of you would turn down the assistance of a 4x4 in severe snow or rain?

We were out helping carers get to the elderly when we had bad snow a couple of years ago, plus towed quite a few people to safety.

A friend of ours was out helping in the floods just 2 weeks ago.

As for those saying they cant see around them, you cant see around buses lorries Van's etc shall we take those off the road too?

Yeah ya don't see the point ... and? I don't see the point of a glass of wine, skiing, sky diving but I let folk crack on with it who enjoy it. I don't go making a thread asking why they exist